Antihypertensive drug therapy in relation to lipid disorders

: Essential arterial hypertension is frequently accompanied by metabolic disorders, including hyperlipidemia. In Polish epidemiological studies hyperlipidemia has been detected in 70% of men and 67% of women. Metabolic disorders associated with arterial hypertension increase with the increasing severity of the disease and affect its course. However, hypotensive therapy may modify the metabolic parameters. Therefore, the appropriate antihypertensive therapy should be selected individually taking into account actual metabolic abnormalities. At present it is recommended to use ACE inhibitors, calcium antagonists and alpha-receptor blockers as the first line therapy in patients with arterial hypertension combined with hyperlipidemia.